First Lady's Faux Pearls Available

Answer Lady

Q: Do you know where I might purchase the three-strand, choker-length faux pearls that Barbara Bush wears with every outfit? How much do they cost?

M.H.,

Cobbs Creek

A. We let our fingers do the walking and called the office of Kenneth Jay Lane, the New York jewelry designer whose baubles also have been worn by former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Jacqueline Kennedy. Pieces in his First Lady Collection, which is what Barbara Bush wears, are available in glass or plastic.

Monkeys, a Richmond clothing shop at 306 Libbie Ave., has the three-strand choker in glass for $86. You can order by phone with a credit card, but be forewarned that jewelry is not returnable. Call (804) 288-3131. Saks Fifth Avenue at Galleria at Tysons II in McLean is a source for the choker in plastic and don't be misled by the word "plastic." There's nothing tacky about it, and it's lighter than the glass necklace, says Suzanne Queensen, Saks' fashion director. At $65, it's also less expensive.

The Lane collection sold out and is now available by special order; a collection by Erwin Pearl is in stock (the two-strand plastic necklace is $50). "You wouldn't be able to tell it apart from the Kenneth Jay Lane line," says Queensen. Saks also will take a credit card order by phone. Call (703) 761-0700, extension 259.

The rush on the jewelry was almost immediate. "We had pearls on the truck the day after Mrs. Bush appeared in them," says Queensen.

Applied to hair after it's washed and before the final rinse, conditioners are protein compounds. They do their work either by lubricating the outside of the hair shaft or penetrating the hair itself.

Hair is an appendage of the skin, explains Irvine. "You know how skin absorbs face creams through tiny pores? It's the same basic idea with a conditioner that penetrates the hair."

Your beautician can help you decide what kind of conditioner you need.

Q: A subject that should hit home with many is the dog leash law, which James City County has. What is the purpose or value of such a law? Why are leash laws not enforced? What can concerned citizens do about dogs invading one's property or annoying a jogger? Calling the dog warden is not the answer.

M.C.W.,

Williamsburg

A. For the past 13 years, Buck Stewart has been a James City County animal control officer on the hoof hunting down wayward pets. "The bottom line is to encourage a responsible pet owner, to prevent the pet from annoying the neighborhood," says Stewart.

That's all well and good, he says, but enforcing the law is easier said than done. "If you call me right now, with a dog in the yard, when ole Buck gets there, that dog may be gone. I cannot write a summons unless I see the dog off its property." You can understand what he's up against.

So what recourse does an unhappy victim have? File a complaint with Stewart, which he will pass along to the pet owner. Stewart must have the caller's name and phone number, information that can remain confidential.

Stewart says he will be happy to discuss any beef about a stray pet. He can be reached between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling 253-1800, which is the police department.

Q: There are poles on the James River Bridge with signs reading "200 feet." Why are the signs there, and what do they mean?

W.C.,

York County

A. The yellow and black signs, which are on the light poles, indicate the distance from pole to pole is 200 feet. They are designed to help motorists gauge the amount of space between their vehicle and the one in front of them, says Robert Turner, with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

In most situations, the recommended distance between vehicles is 200 feet when visibility is good, the bridge is dry and the driver is maintaining the 55 mph speed limit, says Don Hatch, also with the transporation department.

Each pole also has an identification number painted on it. Motorists who break down on the bridge can use the number to report their location when calling for help.